Milan dry spell threatens artworks

Restorers at Milan's famous Brera Art Gallery have taken measures to protect the collection after its humidity control system failed during a "once-in-a-decade" dry, cold spell that moved through Milan last weekend, officials say.

Donato Bramante's Christ at the Column and a Bastiani piece were removed from their exhibit spaces for immediate stabilization, and 40 other artworks were patched with protective Japanese rice paper to ensure their paint surfaces didn't crack under the drier humidity conditions, museum director James Bradburne says.

"A horrible thing to happen, but happily no paint loss, and nothing irreversible," he says in an email.